Server Building > Hard Drives and Controllers
SATA Controller Cards
Rajahal:
Many unRAID servers use one or more SATA controller cards expand the number of SATA connections a motherboard can support. Some of these cards have a few special settings or tricks needed to get them working properly.
8 Port Cards
Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8
Requirements: PCIe x4 or faster slot (PCIe x16 works fine on most motherboards)
Cables:
-To connect the card directly to a hard drive or SATA drive cage, you need Forward Breakout Cables (4 ports per cable), such as these.
-To connect the card directly to a miniSAS backplane such as those used in the Norco 4220 and 4224 cases, you need miniSAS cables (4 ports per cable) such as these.
-When searching for these cables, search for the phrase '8087' and you'll find plenty of them. Beware that the Reverse Breakout Cables are only used in Norco cases, they DO NOT work with these SASLP cards.
Where to get them: Superbiiz (generally cheaper), Newegg
Special Instructions:
First off, always disable the INT13 function on these cards. During boot, hold ctrl-m at the appropriate time (the screen that lists all the drive's serial numbers), then go to the second BIOS menu and disable INT13. If you have more than one of these cards, you need to do this for each card (they share the same BIOS menu, so just select the second controller and disable INT13 for that one as well).
Newer versions of this card come with a BIOS version ending in .21; this version introduces some RAID functionality to the card that can interfere with the motherboard's ability to boot from unRAID. If you are having trouble booting into unRAID with one or more of the SASLP cards installed, you have two options:
1) Modify the firmware using a built-in utility to disable the RAID functionality. Here's how: Disabling RAID from AOC-SASLP-MV8 firmware .21 (thanks to TheWombat for posting this tutorial!)
2) Downgrade the card's firmware to the BIOS version ending in .15. Here's how (thanks to joshpond for this tutorial):
http://thepcspy.com/read/bootable_usb_flash_drive/
1) Download the HP USB Flash Drive format tool
2) Extract
3) Run the exe file to install HP tool
4) Insert USB (will delete data)
5) Open HP USB tool
6) Format, select USB drive, FAT (quick is fine) Create DOS start-up disk, select files
7) Select/browse to the extracted folder and there is a DOS files folder
8) Download the .15 firmware from here.
9) Extract firmware .15 to usb
USB is now ready to boot off (select HDD on motherboard)
Boot off USB, at prompt type:
smc-n.bat
Set mobo to AHCI and it all works fine.
IBM BR10i
Requirements: PCIe x8 or faster slot
Cables:
-To connect the card directly to a hard drive or SATA drive cage, you need Forward Breakout Cables (4 ports per cable), such as these.
-To connect the card directly to a miniSAS backplane such as those used in the Norco 4220 and 4224 cases, you need miniSAS cables (4 ports per cable) such as these.
-When searching for these cables, search for the phrase '8087' and you'll find plenty of them. Beware that the Reverse Breakout Cables are only used in Norco cases, they DO NOT work with these BR10i cards.
Where to get them: Server Supply, eBay
Special Instructions: Currently limited to 2T drives, requires unRAID 5.0b6a+
4 Port Cards
Adaptec 2241000-R PCI Express x4 SATA II (3.0Gb/s) 1430SA SGL
Requirements: PCIe x4 or faster slot
Cables: Standard SATA (1 port per cable), such as these
Where to get them: Newegg
Special Instructions: None, should be plug'n'play.
HighPoint RocketRAID 2310 PCI Express x4 (x8 and x16 slot compatible) SATA II (3.0Gb/s) Controller Card
Requirements: PCIe x4 or faster slot
Cables: Standard SATA (1 port per cable), such as these
Where to get them: Newegg
Special Instructions: Need to disable "INT13" and "Reallocate EBDA" by booting to DOS disk and flashing with latest BIOS. Only when Flashing do you get the option to change these settings. Afterwards, it will work fine. You can also simply hit the END key when the cards BIOS screen comes up, but have to do that each time.
2 Port Cards
SATA2 Serial ATA II PCI-Express RAID Controller Card (Silicon Image SIL3132)
Requirements: PCIe x1 or faster slot
Cables: Standard SATA (1 port per cable), such as these
Where to get them: Monoprice
Special Instructions: None, should be plug'n'play.
SATA2 Serial ATA II PCI-Express RAID Controller Card (JMicron JMB362)
WARNING: There have been a few cases of certain motherboards not POSTing with these cards installed. See this thread for details.
Requirements: PCIe x1 or faster slot
Cables: Standard SATA (1 port per cable), such as these
Where to get them: eBay
Special Instructions: None, should be plug'n'play.
This is far from an exhaustive list. If you would like to add other cards to the list, please list them in a reply to this thread and send me a PM, then I'll add them to this first post.
Rajahal:
Reserved for more cards.
Rajahal:
Reserved for more cards.
lionelhutz:
SATA2 Serial ATA II PCI-Express RAID Controller Card (JMicron JMB362)
Requirements: PCIe x1 or faster slot
Cables: Standard SATA (1 port per cable), such as
Where to get them: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280429470355
Special Instructions: None, should be plug'n'play.
Thanks! Added to the first post.
- Raj
bjp999:
Couple cards to add to the list:
IBM BR10i - x8 8 port card (limited to 2T drives currently, requires unRAID 5.0b6a+) available on eBay and and HERE
Adaptec 1430sa - x4 4 port card HERE
Thanks! Added to the first post.
- Raj
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